Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism (HCRJ) has celebrated over
50 years of worship as a Classical Reform Jewish temple in Houston,
Texas. Located in the heart of Houston’s Galleria area, HCRJ offers an
intimate, vibrant, and inclusive Jewish synagogue with a feeling of
warmth and welcoming where Jewish fellowship may flourish.
Rabbi Steven Gross has nurtured profound spiritual connections and an
engaged community since he began serving our congregation in 2005.
Our innovative religious school is based on a curriculum designed to
engage students in dynamic, interactive learning experiences that teach
Jewish history and principles through nature, art, cooking and other fun,
exciting activities. Classes are held on Sunday mornings.
We welcome you at any of our 7:15 p.m. Friday services.
50 years of worship as a Classical Reform Jewish temple in Houston,
Texas. Located in the heart of Houston’s Galleria area, HCRJ offers an
intimate, vibrant, and inclusive Jewish synagogue with a feeling of
warmth and welcoming where Jewish fellowship may flourish.
Rabbi Steven Gross has nurtured profound spiritual connections and an
engaged community since he began serving our congregation in 2005.
Our innovative religious school is based on a curriculum designed to
engage students in dynamic, interactive learning experiences that teach
Jewish history and principles through nature, art, cooking and other fun,
exciting activities. Classes are held on Sunday mornings.
We welcome you at any of our 7:15 p.m. Friday services.
| Bless all who enter this house. May the worship offered within its walls be worthy of Your greatness and Your love; that all who seek Your presence may find it here. For the joy of community, the gift of human diversity, and the vision of universal harmony, we offer our grateful thanks. -Union Prayer Book Sinai Edition |
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| Welcome to HCRJ Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism |
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| 801 Bering Drive Houston, Texas 77057 Tel: 713/782-4162 Fax: 713/782-4167 hcrj@hcrj.org |
| HOUSTON CONGREGATION FOR REFORM JUDAISM |
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| Follow Us On |
| Follow Rabbi Gross on the HCRJ BLG. |
| Follow Rabbi Gross on the HCRJ BLOG. |
| Sky Blue and the Hopscotch of Sabbath Peace May 2013 |
| Welcome New Members Stephanie O’Connor and Ryan Harrington Julie Reader and Austin Boyd |
| Website Issues: Contact - webadmin@hcrj.org |
| Now that you have seen the temple renovations, please give us your constructive input on what we can improve, what we forgot and what you love. We plan to continue improvements on the building. We are looking for your input. Please send an email to hcrjbuilding@hcrj.org with details on anything you noticed that may need improving or is missing; and all comments about things you absolutely love are appreciated! |
| We have built it! You have come! We won’t stop there! |
| “The Seven Days of Creation” A call for submissions to the Housotn arts community. HCRJ is looking to commission work in seven panels depicting the telling of creation from the Book of Genesis. Deadline for proposals are Saturday, June 15, 2013. Details on the scope of work, calendar, fee and elegibility can be located HERE. |
It is often said that life is a grind. This simple statement brings to mind an
image of a machine programmed with a tedious, repetitive task. From time
to time, our lives may seem as monotonous and robotic as a pre-
programmed machine. The demands of work, the seemingly endless hours
spent in traffic and the shuttling of children from one event to the next can
morph into a routine that can become mundane and somewhat numbing.
The truth is that it is easy to burn out when the rhythm of life is dictated by
daily toil and weekly deadlines.
Judaism implores us to avoid the pitfalls of such an existence. Through the
concept of the Sabbath, our faith helps us set aside one sacred day every
week to liberate us from the chaos of work. The Sabbath challenges us to
refrain from becoming slaves to daily toil, and the customs and rituals we
observe encourage us to refrain from a preoccupation with mundane tasks
and material desires.
Sabbath observance invites us to create a sense of equilibrium in our lives.
After six days of striving to have more and achieve more, the Sabbath is set
aside for us to be more. The question I am posing in this article is, “In what
ways might we consider ways of ritualizing a process of “being more” on a
weekly basis?”
One of my favorite analogies regarding the Sabbath as a day for pause and
reflection was suggested to me by Gloria Herman, who is a long time
member of HCRJ. Gloria Herman, who comes to services with great
regularity, considers the Sabbath as a Sky Blue for the week. Sky Blue is a
term used in the game of hopscotch.
For those who may not have played in their youth, hopscotch is a simple
outdoor game where participants hop on one foot or two through a pattern
of squares drawn on the pavement with chalk. When the final space is
reached at the finish line, the individual is to land solidly on both feet; yell
out ”Sky Blue”; and revel in the joy of reaching the final destination.
As we strive to meet the challenges of the week, we are constantly hopping
over hurdles. Like the game of hopscotch, our minds are actively considering
where to go next and how at the end of the road we will end up on our feet.
Without the joys of Sky Blue at the other side of the challenge, navigating
the road of life would be unceasing and exhausting.
The Sabbath provides us with a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect. It
invites us to consider where we have been and where we might go next. It
summons us to a little down time after the completion of a week of bouncing
from task to task.
Conceptually, the Sabbath is a wonderful idea, but it does not just happen
on its own. Setting aside down time demands preparation. It also requires
us to consider what might enable us to maximize our abilities to experience
a weekly Sky Blue.
In an effort to explore ways to nurture a broader appreciation for the value
of Sabbath observance at home and at temple, HCRJ will be launching a
congregation-wide campaign entitled “Got Shabbat.” During this year-long
effort, Sabbath prayer, music, food, ritual and so much more will be explored
through creative worship, adult education, cooking classes, religious school
programming and congregational surveys. Our goal is to strengthen our
bonds of our community through a shared sense of Sabbath joy, rest and
peace. The hope is that the greeting “Shabbat Shalom” at the end of each
week will be like yelling “Sky Blue” at the end of a game of hopscotch.
image of a machine programmed with a tedious, repetitive task. From time
to time, our lives may seem as monotonous and robotic as a pre-
programmed machine. The demands of work, the seemingly endless hours
spent in traffic and the shuttling of children from one event to the next can
morph into a routine that can become mundane and somewhat numbing.
The truth is that it is easy to burn out when the rhythm of life is dictated by
daily toil and weekly deadlines.
Judaism implores us to avoid the pitfalls of such an existence. Through the
concept of the Sabbath, our faith helps us set aside one sacred day every
week to liberate us from the chaos of work. The Sabbath challenges us to
refrain from becoming slaves to daily toil, and the customs and rituals we
observe encourage us to refrain from a preoccupation with mundane tasks
and material desires.
Sabbath observance invites us to create a sense of equilibrium in our lives.
After six days of striving to have more and achieve more, the Sabbath is set
aside for us to be more. The question I am posing in this article is, “In what
ways might we consider ways of ritualizing a process of “being more” on a
weekly basis?”
One of my favorite analogies regarding the Sabbath as a day for pause and
reflection was suggested to me by Gloria Herman, who is a long time
member of HCRJ. Gloria Herman, who comes to services with great
regularity, considers the Sabbath as a Sky Blue for the week. Sky Blue is a
term used in the game of hopscotch.
For those who may not have played in their youth, hopscotch is a simple
outdoor game where participants hop on one foot or two through a pattern
of squares drawn on the pavement with chalk. When the final space is
reached at the finish line, the individual is to land solidly on both feet; yell
out ”Sky Blue”; and revel in the joy of reaching the final destination.
As we strive to meet the challenges of the week, we are constantly hopping
over hurdles. Like the game of hopscotch, our minds are actively considering
where to go next and how at the end of the road we will end up on our feet.
Without the joys of Sky Blue at the other side of the challenge, navigating
the road of life would be unceasing and exhausting.
The Sabbath provides us with a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect. It
invites us to consider where we have been and where we might go next. It
summons us to a little down time after the completion of a week of bouncing
from task to task.
Conceptually, the Sabbath is a wonderful idea, but it does not just happen
on its own. Setting aside down time demands preparation. It also requires
us to consider what might enable us to maximize our abilities to experience
a weekly Sky Blue.
In an effort to explore ways to nurture a broader appreciation for the value
of Sabbath observance at home and at temple, HCRJ will be launching a
congregation-wide campaign entitled “Got Shabbat.” During this year-long
effort, Sabbath prayer, music, food, ritual and so much more will be explored
through creative worship, adult education, cooking classes, religious school
programming and congregational surveys. Our goal is to strengthen our
bonds of our community through a shared sense of Sabbath joy, rest and
peace. The hope is that the greeting “Shabbat Shalom” at the end of each
week will be like yelling “Sky Blue” at the end of a game of hopscotch.
HCRJ Annual Meeting
Sunday, May 19
9:30AM: Registration
10:00 AM: Annual Meeting
We need you for a quorum. Every
vote counts. Every idea matters.
Our community depends on the
vision of its membership. Please
join us to help shape the future of
HCRJ at our Annual Meeting.
We encourage parents with
children in religious school to stay
for this important meeting. Bagels
and coffee will be served.
REMINDER: In order to vote at the
annual meeting, please make sure
your dues and building fund are
current.
Sunday, May 19
9:30AM: Registration
10:00 AM: Annual Meeting
We need you for a quorum. Every
vote counts. Every idea matters.
Our community depends on the
vision of its membership. Please
join us to help shape the future of
HCRJ at our Annual Meeting.
We encourage parents with
children in religious school to stay
for this important meeting. Bagels
and coffee will be served.
REMINDER: In order to vote at the
annual meeting, please make sure
your dues and building fund are
current.
| Join us for our Final Day of Religious School Sunday, May 19 All-School Awards ceremony & closing assembly at 9:30 Hebrew Evaluations Rotation Wrap-Up “Jewpardy” game and much more! |
Brunch And Learn - Shavuot
Sunday, May 12th 10:00AM
Shelby Hall
Join us for a celebration of
Shavuot with a special adult
education opportunity. Rabbi
Laura Sheinkopf will lead us in an
enriching text study on the Book of
Ruth and together we will share in
the tradition of eating dairy on
Shavuot with a brunch featuring
delicious blintzes.
Sunday, May 12th 10:00AM
Shelby Hall
Join us for a celebration of
Shavuot with a special adult
education opportunity. Rabbi
Laura Sheinkopf will lead us in an
enriching text study on the Book of
Ruth and together we will share in
the tradition of eating dairy on
Shavuot with a brunch featuring
delicious blintzes.
| The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston will have its annual Teacher Appreciation Evening on Monday, May 20, 2013, at 6:45 PM, hosted by Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism. The Federation will be honoring the 2013 recipients of the Irving L. Samuels Outstanding Teacher Awards for Judaic Studies: Debbie Wizig of the Shlenker School and David Wizig of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism. Debbie and David are the first married couple to be honored with these awards! Debbie and David will each receive a $1000 stipend to use towards a Jewish educational program of their choice. They also are eligible for the Grinspoon/Steinhardt Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education that is given through JESNA, the Jewish Education Service of North America. The entire community is invited to attend and show their appreciation to these two educators as well as all of the outstanding teachers in our community. |
| Outstanding Teacher Awards |